Silvertips Add to Coaching Staff, Name Dean DeSilva Assistant Coach
Published on August 30, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release
EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips, two-time Western Conference champions and eight-time U.S. Division champions of the Western Hockey League, and general manager and head coach Dennis Williams announced Dean DeSilva has been hired as assistant coach of the Silvertips, joining the coaching staff headed by Williams along with associate coach Louis Mass.
DeSilva will make Everett his second stop in the WHL after serving behind the bench with the Vancouver Giants in 2019-20 as assistant coach, rounding out the three-member coaching staff.
"We're excited to add Dean along with his abilities to help maximize the potential of our players," said Williams. "As we aimed to expand our coaching staff leading into this season, thorough conversations with Dean kept leading us to conclusions that he was a terrific fit. He is a strong communicator, has a strong understanding of today's game and is very good at relating with players through video and on the ice. His coaching track record of development is outstanding. We're looking forward to the impact he can make with our program."
"Joining a prestigious and hard-working coaching staff in Everett means everything," said DeSilva. "Having watched them from an opposing side in the past, it doesn't take long to gain respect for the pride and passion the players and fans carry here. It makes me extremely excited to become a part of that culture and have an opportunity to work with outstanding coaches in Dennis Williams and Louis Mass, the quality of our roster, and the core values of our organization. I'm looking forward to boosting their objectives and deliver ideas that can make a difference in achieving our goals."
DeSilva, who has served in assistant or camp coaching roles with Hockey Canada at the U16, U17 and 3 Nations Cup levels, handled in video and analytics roles to enhance on-ice instruction with his previous WHL stop in Vancouver, in 2019-20, helping guide the Giants to a postseason berth and 32-24-4-2 record (70 points) with forward Justin Sourdif taken by the Florida Panthers in the third round (87th overall) of the 2020 National Hockey League Draft. Sourdif and center Cole Shepard were named to NHL Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the draft, and the Giants went on an 11-game win streak and finished the pandemic-halted season with a 13-4-1-0 record in the final 18 games.
Additionally carrying experience as assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2016 Youth Olympics in Lillehammer and Team Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, he has helped over 35 players reach the NHL, NCAA, and U-Sports levels in his career including Mackenzie Blackwood, Mike Hoffman, and Tanner Pearson, DeSilva worked for five seasons from 2014-19 as head coach of the Kitchener Junior Rangers U16 AAA program where he helped 16 players become draft picks of Ontario Hockey League teams, the Rangers reach the OHL Cup five times, and was a three-time member of the Team Alliance coaching staff at the OHL Gold Cup.
He was named the 2015 Kitchener Minor Hockey Association Coach of the Year and the following year earned the 2016 Alliance Hockey Award of Merit for Outstanding Contribution. He spent five seasons as technical director and development coordinator of the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, helping develop on ice programs from grass roots to the Elite U18 level, and coached in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with Waterloo and Elmira for eight seasons where he was named league coach of the year in 2010 with the Waterloo Siskins and helped 30 players receive NCAA scholarships.
The native of Ayr, Ontario is the owner and operator of Dean DeSilva Hockey, opening in May 2020 as a skill development program for hockey players from minor to professional levels.
TIPS IN THE NHL
After selections on Jul. 24 for Niko Huuhtanen (Tampa Bay) and Olen Zellweger (Anaheim), the Everett Silvertips have elevated 29 players to be drafted by NHL clubs, including ten in the previous four years. Last season, three Silvertips were selected in the draft - Gage Goncalves (Tampa Bay) in the second round, Kasper Puutio (Florida) in the fifth round, and Ronan Seeley (Carolina) in the seventh round. Entering the 2021-22 season, their 19th in the WHL, the Silvertips have helped promote 20 players to make their NHL debut.
COMING UP:
- PRE-SEASON NHL HOCKEY: The "Three Rink Rush" and the Silvertips host a battle between the Seattle Kraken and Edmonton Oilers at Angel of the Winds Arena on Oct. 1.
- OPENING NIGHT in downtown Everett: the Silvertips host the Portland Winterhawks at Angel of the Winds Arena, Oct. 8 at 7:05 p.m. | TIPS TICKET PACKAGE INFO
- The Silvertips will open their 19th season in the WHL on Oct. 2, visiting the Kelowna Rockets at 7:05pm.
- Silvertips pre-season: Opens Sept. 10 vs. Spokane at 6pm as part of the Silvertips Pre-Season Classic at Angel of the Winds Arena. Ticket information will be announced soon.
Western Hockey League Stories from August 30, 2021
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- 2021 Training Camp Opens September 7 - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Arizona Coyotes Sign Dylan Guenther to Entry-Level Contract - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Silvertips Add to Coaching Staff, Name Dean DeSilva Assistant Coach - Everett Silvertips
- Evan Weinger Re-Signs with San Jose (AHL) - Portland Winterhawks
- Rebels Announce 2021 Training Camp Schedule - Red Deer Rebels
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